Software Provides Foundation for IoT-based Automation Strategies

Beckhoff Automation

Dec 30th, 2019

Beckhoff Twin Cat Cloud Engineering Software

Engineered for IoT and Industrie 4.0 applications, Beckhoff Automation TwinCAT Cloud Engineering software allows users to instantiate and use existing TwinCAT engineering and runtime products directly in the cloud. Accessible with a web browser, it offers a central, open machine control platform and enables machines, plants, and production lines to be connected. Users can run separate TwinCAT Cloud Engineering instances with different software versions, all of which are remotely accessible.

Make plans to visit PACK EXPO East in Philadelphia, March 3-5, to see on-trend food processing and packaging machinery and materials.

Jls Peregrine Robotic Cartoning Solution

Robotic, Vision-guided Solution Streamlines the Traditional Cartoning Process

Eliminates the need for carton plows, tucker wheels, and additional conveyors

The FDA New Era of Smarter Food Safety Low- or No-cost Tech-enabled Traceability Challenge calls upon companies to invest in innovation through R&D to improve U.S. competitiveness.

FDA Announces Low- or No-Cost Food Traceability Challenge Winners

Companies respond to the challenge with source to store, farm to fork, and more localized traceability solutions.

Jeffrey Barach, Contributing Editor

Tech Companies to Help FDA With Track-and-Trace Solutions

A traceability system to match FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint is a must for food manufacturers. But traceability goals will require more than regulations; a partnership between technology providers and food manufacturers will be essential.

Augmented Reality Software to Streamline Operations

A new collaboration that pairs Lenovo’s ThinkReality software platform with augmented reality headsets from RealWear could help facilitate an information pipeline between enterprise planners and frontline personnel.

Endress +hauser Memosens Liquid Analysis Sensor

Liquid Analysis Sensors Future-proof Measuring Points

Offer safe data transfer for increased availability of measuring points and trouble-free operation

CPG manufacturers need to work with retailers, distributors, and supply chain partners to share sales information through the supply chain, from the farmer to the checkout line.

CPGs to Spend $23.8 Billion on Digital Transformation by 2030

As the sharing of information along the supply chain becomes more critical, CPGs are increasingly creating digital threads to inform their production plans with relevant data.

Nord Condition Monitoring Solution

Condition Monitoring Solution Extends the Life of Components and Machinery

Provides the necessary data for predictive maintenance

Torn Apron’s chef-prepared, restaurant-quality grab-and-go meals are packaged in vacuum skin packs that let the bright colors of the fresh ingredients shine through.

Tray Sealer Helps Startup Brand Become a Savory Success

Using a combination of vacuum skin packaging and High Pressure Processing, grab-and-go meal startup Torn Apron is producing 4,000 tray packs/week of restaurant-quality meals that have a shelf life from 50 to 60 days.

Beckhoff E Xtended Transport (xts) System

Transport System Creates Realistic Representations of Complete Systems

Provides collision-free motion with movers working independently or in groups

What is MTTR and MTBF?

In this episode, we explore Meantime to Repair (MTTR) and Meantime Before/Between Failure (MTBF) to better understand how these metrics are applied and calculated and how they can benefit manufacturers.

Fanuc Scara Robots

Robots Provide Continuous, Fast Operation at All Payloads

Offer superior motion and ultimate precision

Apex Baker Bot Cobot

Cobot Reduces Repetitive Strain Injuries

Helps with labor shortages

JBT has developed iOPS to provide performance optimization across not only its Avure HPP offerings but across its full equipment line.

Big Data Analytics Optimizes HPP Equipment, Processes

Springing in large part from its acquisition of HPP equipment provider Avure a few years ago, JBT’s iOPS cloud-based performance optimization platform helps to improve utilization, visibility, and control in HPP facilities.

Will the Future of MES and SCADA Be More Closely Mixed?

The growing overlap in functionalities between MES and SCADA are likely to continue with tighter integration in pursuit of a single pane of glass.

Idec Hg1 P Handheld Hmi

Handheld HMI Is Small and Lightweight

Features an ergonomic design for long duration and fatigue-free use

Siemens Motion Control Program

Motion Control Program Features Unprecedented Level of Integration

Offers the innovation necessary for a sustainable competitive advantage

Can Operations Technology Be Secured and Managed With IT Tools?

Find out how operations technology devices can be discovered, secured, and managed with the same kinds of tools used by IT, with an eye toward downtime avoidance and change management for asset management and cybersecurity.

Fresh tacos that were once too hot to handle manually are now placed into trays by JLS Talon robots.

CTI Foods Automates Its Hot to Handle Taco Packaging Line

Tacobots efficiently upgrade and automate production with a unique two-pick mechanical tool. The recent line integration project wins a 2021 Manufacturing Innovation Award from ProFood World.

Novolyze Food Safety And Quality Platform

Solution Helps Ensure Food Safety and Quality Standards Compliance

Provides insights to identify priority pathways for improvement

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Beverage Manufacturers Turn to Dynamic Machines and Automation to Meet SKU Expansion

Manufacturers are being pressed on all fronts to expand offerings in the beverage market, and they are turning to OEMs and suppliers to offer solutions at all points in the manufacturing process.

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ThinkIQ’s cloud-based platform takes into account contextual data across the supply chain.

Smart Manufacturing Platform Transforms Poultry Processing

U.S. government-funded CESMII is using ThinkIQ’s intelligence platform to drive smart manufacturing in a pilot project at a chicken rendering plant. The findings could help improve efficiencies across all kinds of energy-intensive industries.

unPACKed podcast: Cybersecuring Packaging IT and OT Systems

unPACKed with PMMI Podcast: Stay Ahead of Cybercriminals . . . or Else

Listen to the unPACKed with PMMI podcast as Donna Ritson, president of DDR Communications, helps lay out a blueprint for discovering areas where your network could be vulnerable to cybercriminals.

Sterling Batch Pro Sa Batching Automation And Control Application Module

Batching Module Eliminates Errors, Ensures Lot and Material Traceability

Helps achieve proper batch and mixing results

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New Era of High-Performance Actuation to Enable Simpler, Safer, and More Productive Robots and Machines

This direct-drive actuator combines high torque density, cleanliness, and reliability to improve performance and lower total cost of ownership, the company says.

Healthcare Packaging, Us

DEMAUREX SA: Sidebot for High-speed Collaborative Automation

Wyzo works safely side-by-side with humans without protective barriers or performance compromises.

At MWC, Fanuc robots are used to place the packaged 40-lb blocks of cheese onto pallets before they go through a stretch wrapper and are taken to the warehouse.

MWC’s Robot Configurations Provide Flexibility

Robotics come into play in the cheesemaker's palletizing operations. But for the most part, that level of complexity isn't needed in a facility producing such consistent product types and sizes. What's needed more is simplified automation.

The Ignition SCADA system provides alarms for MWC operators, and also provides layers of data capabilities for track and trace, OEE, and more.

Cheesemaker Harvests the Data Cream of the Crop

The MWC cheese and whey facility, ProFood World's 2021 Manufacturing Innovation Award winner, continues to layer on SCADA functionality to get more information from the data it gathers.

unPACKed podcast: Market Disruption as a Competitive Advantage

unPACKed podcast: Market Disruption as a Competitive Advantage

Listen to the unPACKed with PMMI podcast as Tom Morrison outlines a classic good news/bad news evaluation for the next five to ten years.

Mars Partners with Microsoft for its Global Digital Transformation

The plan includes a “cloud-first” strategy, leveraging AI, IoT, and digital twins across its businesses, focusing on intelligent supply chains, and delivering hyper-relevant consumer experiences.

The Massman Automation compact cheese block case packer packages 40-lb. blocks in protective cases for safe shipment and handling.

New Case Packer, Robotic Palletizer, Let Wisconsin Cheesemaker Efficiently Offer Multiple Output Options

With a new automated case packer and palletizer, Wisconsin Whey Protein’s cheesemaking operation can now offer its customers bulk cheese in barrels or in blocks.

The out-of-box functionality of the TrakSYS MES platform provides monitoring, measuring, reporting, and analytics to run manufacturing operations more effectively.

MES Provides Insight Needed in Competitive Distillery Sector

The Bourbon Trail is facing tight margins and market erosion, making the insights from Parsec’s TrakSYS software particularly helpful. But the food and beverage industry overall could benefit from capabilities in OEE, track and trace, and more.

OEMs should keep cybersecurity top of mind in their business, carefully monitor their own products in the market to ensure their ongoing security, and strictly regulate the devices they use for external work.

OEMs Play Larger Role in Manufacturing Industry Cybersecurity

Since OEMs also serve manufacturing clients who are themselves vulnerable to cyberattack, there are a few extra considerations to be aware of with regard to cybersecurity.